The 2015 Michigan football team has received plenty of nationwide attention, but what truly defines success during Jim Harbaugh's first season at the helm of his alma mater is likely a different story.
ESPN.com's David Purdum wrote that the Wolverines have attracted the fifth-highest sum of money for national championship bets, trailing only Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn and Notre Dame.
However, finding a bookie to bet a single penny on Harbaugh and Co. winning the title—or even reaching the College Football Playoff—isn't advised. Michigan would be extremely fortunate to attain 10 wins this season.
Yet that doesn't mean the 2015 campaign is destined for failure. It doesn't mean another 5-7 season is acceptable, either.
Colin Becht of Sports Illustrated called Michigan the Big Ten's most underrated team. But if a reader stops after merely skimming the headline, the necessary context is lost.
While Michigan isn't ready to win the East Division, Harbaugh's crew can wreak some havoc in the standings. That starts with Team 136 winning games it's supposed to win.
Falling to Maryland is unacceptable. Losing to Rutgers cannot be tolerated. Edging Northwestern by one point thanks to a last-second hold from Drew Dileo shouldn't be repeated. The talent level of this Wolverines squad is too great for a Harbaugh-coached team to struggle against the lesser Big Ten programs.
Cruising to victories over Oregon State, UNLV, Maryland, Northwestern, Minnesota, Rutgers and Indiana should be a satisfying accomplishment in 2015. Overachieving would be entering the fourth quarter of those contests with the outcome essentially decided—in the Wolverines' favor.
The pressure to reach that goal rests mostly on defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who took over a unit that surrendered just 311.3 yards and 22.4 points per game last season. Theoretically, Michigan should only improve under Durkin, the leader of consecutive top-15 defenses at Florida.
If the unit reaches its potential, Michigan will consistently be a disruptive opponent. Nine players who started at least five games will return. In addition to those nine, Desmond Morgan, Jabrill Peppers, Wayne Lyons, Mario Ojemudia and Taco Charlton are expected to grab No. 1 roles.
Inexperience isn't a problem on that side of the ball. Ultimately, Michigan's defense should allow the team to challenge Utah and Penn State on the road and remain competitive in a couple of games in which a victory isn't anticipated.
"The Wolverines get three chances for a signature win against Michigan State, Ohio State and at Penn State," Becht said. "They're capable of stealing one of those."
Harbaugh and his staff are attempting to develop an underwhelming offense into a ground-focused force. When healthy, Derrick Green, Ty Isaac, De'Veon Smith and Drake Johnson form one of the deepest running back groups in the nation.
Eight starters return, and passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch should improve the lackluster aerial attack despite uncertainty at quarterback. If Fisch helped Miami's Stephen Morris garner praise as a potential franchise quarterback in the NFL, the coach can make Jake Rudock or Shane Morris a fine player for 2015.
Plus, fortunately for the Wolverines, their two toughest games—MSU and Ohio State—will be played where the offense best performed in 2014: The Big House.
The total difference of home and road contests was 189 yards and 21.4 points per outing, which—while not a perfect measurement—is no small tally and provides insight into the inconsistent performance of the team.
If Michigan receives a solid offensive performance in either showing, well, crazier things have happened in college football when an already-stout defensive team gets some help.
The maize and blue finishing 2015 with victories over inferior foes and one top divisional opponent isn't a glamorous thought for Michigan supporters. It's certainly better than five wins and losing to Minnesota, Rutgers and Maryland again, though.
Harbaugh is bound to turn the program around, but his first season is still a rebuilding year. Expectations must be tempered until the team learns and actually understands an entirely new coaching style.
The road back to relevance demands patience, yet it starts with clear progress in how the Wolverines win games. Not merely if they do.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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